Tel Aviv will be hosting the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, in a final that is expected to draw over 180 million viewers worldwide.
Israel is hosting the competition after its singer Netta Barzilai won last year’s contest with her pop anthem ‘Toy’.
Madonna will be performing at the ceremony, where it is expected she will sing three songs, including her hit ‘Like a Prayer’.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv’s purpose-built Eurovision Village for a live outdoor broadcast of the earlier two semifinals.
Israel has spent over $5.6 million in security, “significantly more” than previous years, according to Sharon Ben-David, the Eurovision spokeswoman for Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. Tens of thousands of police have been patrolling the contest throughout the week.
26 out of an original 41 contestants will battle for first place in the three hour 30 minute live broadcast on Saturday at 8pm, BBC One.
The UK will be represented by 21-year-old singer Michael Rice, and Kobi Marimi is flying the flag for Israel.
